Kimi to Boku no Saigo no Senjo, Aruiha Sekai ga Hajimaru Seisen - Volume 11 - Chapter 1.2

2

The Castle Tower Seat.

It was the last building left after the Founder Nebulis’s destruction a century ago.

“This is the only place I can’t get into based on recognition alone,” Risya said as she got out of the car.

The ID card she had produced used cutting-edge technology for authentication. Even the staff officer to the Lord herself wasn’t allowed to come and go as she pleased without verifying who she was.

“Risya In Empire, entry approved.”

“Thank you very much.”

Risya headed back into the car.

“Nene, you can drive in,” Risya said. “Head straight to the facility.”

“I can feel the years being shaved off my life…,” Sisbell, who had been holding her breath until that very moment, replied in Nene’s place. “What if they ask to see inside the car?”

“Just pretend you don’t know anything. You’ll be fine—as long as you don’t accidentally let slip that you’re the Third Princess of the Nebulis Sovereignty, that is. That’s the whole point of why I’ve come here with you.”

“But what happens if the guards inside overhear?”

“Oh, no, that’s not how it works. You can talk freely inside.”

“What?”

“The whole place is unmanned,” Risya said, gesturing toward the reddish-brown building with her chin.

“The Lord’s residence is empty. I mean, you’ve seen what Their Excellency looks like.”

Inside Castle Tower Seat, Sisbell widened her eyes at the sight that greeted her.

“How is it so quiet?”

It was deserted. Although there were security cameras dotting the ceiling, the hallway stretching tens of meters in front of them was empty. Not a single person was walking through it.

Clack…clack…

Only their footfalls echoed through the hall. They saw neither guards nor office workers.

“Is this what you meant earlier? Risya, or whatever your name is.”

“There are people around. Iska should know. A Saint Disciple permanently stationed here, actually. It’s just that we hardly ever bump into each other in a place as big as this.”

“I’m surprised you consider this to be good security.”

“Do you really think there’s anyone out there who would attempt something?”

Risya, who had been at the front, turned around to shrug at Sisbell.

“Who on earth do you think would sneak into the Lord’s residence, which is in the middle of the capital, escape past the Saint Disciple, and try to go after the life of Their Excellency?”

“…”

“That’s the whole reason why we keep this place a secret from you, Princess Sisbell, and the rest of the people of the Sovereignty.”

“…I’m not sure how to feel about all of this,” Sisbell said.

“Anyway, we’re almost there,” Risya stated.

The Castle Tower Seat was split into five parts. The gigantic building had four towers and glass corridors that led deeper inside. The fifth building was the Heaven Between Insight and Nosight. A lone black pedestal stood in front of its entrance.

“‘Heaven above, heaven below, honor only to the emperor’…oops. Princess Sisbell, bear in mind that the code to open these doors is also a secret. Only about thirty people in the entire Empire know it.”

Risya smirked as the doors opened in front of her to a crimson reception hall. It looked out of place in the building, which had seemed so lifeless until now.

The soft scent of wooden boards and the sharp prickle of rush grasses hit their nostrils. The dazzling vermillion interior felt almost otherworldly, like it had come from a different place entirely.

And deeper in the room…

“Hey there. Finally made it, have you?”

A silver-furred beastperson was lying on top of tatami mats. Their face looked like a cross between a cat’s and a human girl’s. Their eyes were large like a kitten’s and seemed almost friendly.

A beastperson.

Though they looked like a monster on the outside, this beastperson held the highest authority in the Empire: Lord Yunmelngen.

“I was getting so tired of waiting for you. She was, too.”

“Rin!”

There was a pillar behind the Lord. When Sisbell shouted, everyone stared at it. A brown-haired girl was tied to it. Her arms and legs were bound by ropes of straw as thick as a person’s wrists.

“…Lady Sisbell…I’m so sorry…” Rin gritted her teeth. “To think I could let you see me in such a sorry state after being captured by the enemy… This is my life’s greatest failure…”

“Rin! I’ll save you right now!” Sisbell pointed a finger at the Lord with determination. “Release Rin! I came here, just like you wanted. So set your hostage free like you promised.”

“All right,” the Lord said.

“I see. You have no intention to. Well, I’m going to give you a piece of my…… Wait, what?”

“I just said she can go. You’re a very bad listener.” The Lord yawned. “And just so you know, I haven’t been keeping Rin tied up. She’s been free to do as she pleases.”

“……Come again?” Sisbell was taken aback. She blinked. “What in the world do you mean?”

“Rin tied herself to this pillar. She said it wouldn’t have looked good for her to have been wandering about this whole time, so she opted to bind herself before you got here. This was all her doing.”

“Y-you dummy!” Rin shouted. “I told you not to tell them…ugh, really!”

The ropes around her unraveled. They hadn’t been tied tightly from the start. Just the slightest tug had been enough to pull her free. It was apparent to Iska the moment he saw it.

…Jhin, Nene, Commander Mismis, and Risya of course must have also realized.

…Sisbell was the only one to fall for it.

The princess looked dumbfounded.

After freeing herself, Rin knelt on a knee in front of the princess and lowered her head.

“It’s as you see, Lady Sisbell.”

“…So this farce was your idea? I feel like you deserve more of a scolding than the Lord right now.”

“It is as you see,” Rin repeated, her head still bowed. “The Lord did not show any sign they were going to hurt me in any way. Much as I detest this beast for leading the Empire, I believe they will not harm you either, Lady Sisbell.”

“I’m pretty sure I told you that from the start.”

The Lord slowly started to move. They leisurely pulled themself up to sit straight.

“Third Princess of the Nebulis Sovereignty.”

“Wh-what is it…”

“There’s no need to be frightened. You came here prepared, didn’t you?”

“…Prepared for what?”

“Prepared to see the worst day in the world.”

The silver beastperson rose to their feet. They looked at Sisbell, then Iska and the rest of the unit, and Risya.

“Come with me,” they said.